Conor McAleny’s penalty helps Harrogate earn valuable point at Cheltenham

Conor McAleny’s penalty earned Harrogate a valuable point at Cheltenham in a 1-1 draw in Sky Bet League Two.

The home side had opened the scoring through Jake Bickerstaff’s 73rd-minute strike.

But McAleny converted from the spot after Jack Muldoon was tripped by James Wilson in the box 10 minutes from the end.

Cheltenham started well, with Hakeeb Adelakun’s shot beaten away by James Belshaw in the sixth minute.

Isaac Hutchinson’s glancing header from Ethon Archer’s cross drifted just wide in the 15th minute, but Harrogate grew into the game, with Reece Smith denied by Joe Day’s fine block.

Robbie Cundy nodded Luke Young’s corner past the left post and Jack Evans skewed wide from a good position for Harrogate.

Day reacted well to deny Muldoon before half-time as it remained goalless at the break.

The deadlock was broken when Bickerstaff was fed by fellow substitute Josh Martin.

His first effort came back off the inside of the right post, but he followed up to register the first goal of his loan spell from Wrexham.

Harrogate hit back through McAleny’s coolly converted penalty, sending Day the wrong way.